BAYSIDE – Curbside recycling just might be a reality for Bayside if a majority of residents want it.

The Bayside City Council and residents at the council’s meeting Thursday evening, July 11, saw a recycling presentation by Mike Reeves of Republic Services, the current company that handles trash and garbage pickup for Bayside.

Reeves handed out a survey (answer yes or no) for residents that asks three questions: Would you take your recyclables to a central location if we provided a container to pace them in? Would you take the recyclables on a Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon? Would you prefer to pay more per month and have another cart at your home for recycling?

The option for a centralized location would be free. However, curbside recycling, that is having a cart at the residence, would cost a little more because a truck and driver would have to come to each residence.

How much curbside recycling would cost depends on the distance to the residences and the number of homes. This type of pickup could be revisited by the council once the community expresses its wishes.

Residents would not have to separate the recyclables because Republic Services has “single stream” recycling, which means everything is co-mingled and separated at the recycling plant, or material recovery facility.

People are still necessary at the MRF conveyor belt because they have to remove things that don’t belong in recycling, such as garbage or unsafe things, according to Reeves.

“Single stream makes it easy,” Reeves said.

He reminded people why recycling is important.

First, it conserves natural resources. Recycling also decreases greenhouse gases, saves landfill space and thereby increases the lifespan of the landfill, and it saves money.

Reeves said his company likes to take “baby steps” with recycling.

“We’re suggesting a centralized site,” he said.

He said starting that way would help the community figure out what works.

At a centralized site, pickup could be once a month or twice a month.

But if it was necessary to pickup every week, then curbside pickup might be in order.

The council voted unanimously to send out surveys to residents. Also, the surveys will be available at City Hall, or phone the office at 529-6520 for more information.

The council also approved a $2,500 increase over the $7,000 already paid to bring the mitigation site at the city’s park shoreline back to compliance.

The additional money would pay for grading and erosion control. The total amount pays for sea grass to stop erosion.

Mayor Ken Dahl said the money can be recouped when the town receives an expected $80,000 Coastal Impact Assistance Program federal grant.

The money to pay the $2,500 will come from the town’s general fund.

The council, in a cost-cutting move, approved returning to postcard utility payment notices rather than the current paper statement notices.

The measure, introduced by Councilwoman Karen Clark, is estimated to save $681 a year. The mayor’s monthly letter will now be posted at